Castor like wheels again on AMG model

[pattyg]

First it was the C-Class where the AMG Sport wheels were lost under the body and it appears they've done it again with the new A Class.

Seems the modern bigger wheel designs are lost on Mercedes.

[anonymous-user]

Maybe someone sensible has thought, hang on a minute, enough's enough, there has to be a time where we stop increasing wheel size & start thinking about dynamics, handling, ride quality.

Then those that have to have 22" wheels on a hatchback can go to Halfords for their fix.

Just a thought

ETA they're apparently 18" wheels on the AMG. It's an A-Class, a small hatchback, why on earth would you want bigger wheels than 18"? I had 17" wheels on a MINI Cooper, it went round corners great but the ride was awful, it was the reason I got rid after a year of crashing over every imperfection in the road and gave a horrible unsettled ride on motorways. If I was buying an A-Class AMG I'd want smaller wheels on it to avoid suffering the same.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 17th October 19:12

[steve-V8s]

[quote=yellowbentines]Maybe someone sensible has thought, hang on a minute, enough's enough, there has to be a time where we stop increasing wheel size & start thinking about dynamics, handling, ride quality.
quote]

Quite agree.

Smaller wheels with slightly higher profile rubber make the car so much better to drive. It must be so frustrating for the suspension design people. They presumably spend thousands of hours developing and fine tuning a setup to give a good compromise between ride and handling and the marketing people ruin it all by offering bigger rims fitted with rubber bands.

Never will understand the fashion, and that is all it is, for absolutely filling the wheel arches

[ghibbett]

^^^ Here, here to both the above. Smaller wheels = better dynamics.

[gizlaroc]

Absolutely agree, the only car I have ever owned where the bigger wheel was an improvement in the handling department was my CSL, where the 19" rim did outperform the 18" track wheels I had, everything else 17 or 18" has been better, not only far more comfy but more compliant, more bite into corners and more control as well as grip.

I also disagree on the looks as well after experiencing that. I now find myself looking at oversized wheels and thinking they are 'all show and no go', they have the chav look to them, when I see a proper performace car with the smaller wheel on it makes me think they owner really knows his beans.

I haven't got a pic of my CSL on the 18's, but I have got a pic with my M3 on the 18's somewhere.

[gizlaroc]

These looked really good on my silver grey CSL, looked ready to rock. haha

[pattyg]

yellowbentines said:

ETA they're apparently 18" wheels on the AMG. It's an A-Class, a small hatchback, why on earth would you want bigger wheels than 18"? I had 17" wheels on a MINI Cooper, it went round corners great but the ride was awful, it was the reason I got rid after a year of crashing over every imperfection in the road and gave a horrible unsettled ride on motorways. If I was buying an A-Class AMG I'd want smaller wheels on it to avoid suffering the same.

Edited by yellowbentines on Wednesday 17th October 19:12

I honestly didn't think they were that big...certainly the 17 inch AMG wheels look lost on a C-Class and I think it must just be the design of the A Class which makes them look tiny in photos.
PS Who buys a Mercedes for its handling prowess?

Edited by pattyg on Thursday 18th October 18:05